Self-player for pipe organs



Feb. 17, 1931. 5 CLARK 1,792,473

SELF PLAYER FOR PIPE ORGANS File d Sept. 25, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet l 5 INVENTOR.

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Feb. 17, 1931. CLARK 1,792,473

\ SELF PLAYER FOR PIPE ORGANS Filed Sept. 25, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I By. a:

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Feb. 17, 1931. D. E. CLARK SELF PLAYER FOR PIPE ORGANS Filed Sept.

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D. E. CLARK SELF PLAYER FOR PIPE ORGANS Filed Sept. 25. 1928 6 Sheets-$heet 4 INVENT R.

Feb. 17, 1931. o. E. CLARK 1,792,473

SELF PLAYER FOR PIPE ORGANS Filed Sept. 25. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 c c: c: :22: S

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hw f I BY Feb. 11, 1931. I D ECLARK 1,792,413

SELF PLAYER FOR PIPE ORGANS Filed Sept. 25, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 2 2 c: :2 CD

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Patented Feb. 17, 1931 PATENT OFFICE DONALD E. CLARK, OF SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA SELF PLAYER FOR PIPE ORGANS Application filed September 25, 1928. Serial No. 308,221.

My invei'ition relates to self-players for pipe organs, and more pa rticularly to certain improvcmcuts by means of whichl am'ablc to control from the usual perforated record of standard piano roll width, not only the pedal an ilmanual notes, but the individual manip ulation of eighty-live or more stop tablets.

In present player records, within the note range, whether for piano or organ, each perforation performs a single function only.

\Vith my invention, I am able'to cause these same perforations to perform one or more additional functions, thus making it possible, by means of additional perforations in a roll of standard width and perforation, and which can be made by present perforating machinery, to control and manipulate an organ in the same manner that an organist does, including the operation of swell shutters, pulling and cancelling of individual stops andtoe pistons, and playing one or all of three manuals, or the main pedal section and the echo organ pedal section.

Thus with a minimum of 'addit-ional'means 25 or mechanism, I am able to control and manipulate the vario'us'control devices of a pipe organfrom a standard roll.

In orderto fully ex lain my invention, I haveillustrated on theaccorn'panyi'ng drawingssufiicient mechanism-to embody my invention, which I will now'de'scribe.

Figure 1 is a" diagrammatic View showing the control mechanisms and their various connections electrically and pneumatically;

Figure 2 is a plan View of shutteroperat-ing mechanism;

Figure 3 is an end View thereof;

Figure .4 is a sectional View taken on line Figure 5 is an enlarged View of the stop tablets, usually manually operated;

Figure 6 is a front View of the manuals and foot pedals of an organ related to a tracker bar, over which the perforated music sheet moves;

Figure 7' is a plan View, on an enlarged scale ofa pneumatic switch control from the trackerbar, also showing the music roll over said tracker bar Figure Sis a Vertical sectional view there tl'irough on line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Figure 9 is an enlarged, vertical sectional \lt-EW of one of the electrically controlled pneumatic switch bar operating devices;

Figure 10 is an end elevation ofthe same, from the lefthand side of Fig. 9, with parts broken away;

Figure 11 is an enlarged edge view of an armature valve member, partly in section,"

Figure 12 is a fragmentary'portion of a music roll showing how," withmyinvention applied thereto,- a regular note playing'hole therein can be made 'toperform a variety of different functions; I

Figure 13 isa fragmentary section of a standard music roll for piano showing how my additional holes can bep'laced therein for automatically operatin'g'the stop tablets suitable for the music to immediately follow on said roll;

Figure 14 is a similar view showing a specially prepared music roll and illustrating how the stop tablets can be operated in one section, for one manual, while notes are being played from another section on another manual.

I have shown so much ofan'electrically op erated pipe organ asisnecessary to illustrate how my invention canbe attached thereto for the purpose of causing the various controls to be automatically operated instead ofmanually operated, such operation being controlled from the standard piano roll width of'r'ecord, a few additional perforations being required in said perforated music roll. It makes possible the use of any stand ard eighty-eight note music roll, such as are now for sale and which were originally designed to be played on self player pianos, for self player for pipe organs.

Referring now mor'e in detail to the drawings, Fig. 6, 11 designates the usual tracker bar 12, 13 and'lfi designate a three manual console, and 15 designates the pedals; The tracker bar 11 is shown divided into three sections, indicated by the brackets 16, 17 and 18, representing the'normal corresponding playingpositions' of each section, indicated by-the light lines running therefrom to the 111g range.

manuals, while the light broken lines running from said tracker bar to said manuals indicate the keys which can be made to play by use of the additional holes in the tracker bar and paper roll beyond the ordinary note play- I have shown eight additional holes at each of the opposite ends of said tracker bar, said holes constituting expression holes and they are designated 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26, on the right hand end of said tracker bar, and 27, 28,29, 30,31, 32, 33 and 34, on the left hand end or bar. i 7

Referring now to Fig. 1,1 have shown a portion of section 18 of said track-er bar 11,

including holes 19, 20, 21 and 22, and also a portion of section 16of said tracker bar, including holes 3'7 to .42, inclusive, which are note playing holes, and also a portion of the left hand end of said tracker bar, including holes 28 and 29. My invention includes the additional holes 19 to 26, inclusive, and the holes 27 to 34, inclusive, in the opposite ends of the tracker bar, which are in addition to the note playing holes included in sections .16, 17 and 18 of said tracker bar. These additional holes are provided'for the purpose of operating the expression controlling mechanisms, which are usually manually operated. These expression holes 19 to;26 and 27 to 34,with the exception of holes 28 and 29, cause the note playing holes of sections 16, 17 and 18, to perform various additional functions, as hereinafter described.

Each ofsaid tracker bar holes is connected by means of a rubber tube, as 35, to a pouch box 44, shown in enlarged cross sectional view in Fig. 8. Said pouch box is old in the art and is connected with means (not shown) for maintaining therein a partial vacuum; There is also provided therein two switch contact members and 46, the member-46 being adapted to be-inoved bya. flexible diaan operating circuit from a generator The usual perforatedmusic sheet is designat ed as a whole 51, and is wound-On the rollers RandR.-" V 1 Inasmuch as a partial vacuum exists in said pouch box 44, it will be understood that when a hole of'the p-erforatedmusic sheet registers witha hole in the tracker bar, that free air enters through tube 35 and passageway 49 to the air pocket. 48, thereby lifting the diaphragm 47 and closing the switch members and 46, thus establishing a circuit therethrough. \Vhen the hole in the tracker bar is again closed,'the air in the air pocket 48 escapes through passage 49 and bleed 50,. I into pouch box 44 under the vacuum tendency existing therein, causing the d1aphragm47 of said track to drop and the switch member 46 to away from switch member 45.

T he lower switch member 46, in each case, is

connected with'the generator 53 through its wire 46. The switch members controlled through holes 19, 20, 21 and 22, are connected by wires 19, 20, 21 and 22 into a circuit 52, which extends to a contact member 54, cooperating with a contact member 54, from which extends circuit 55, running to the generator brush 56. The switch members controlled by the holes 37 to 42, inclusive, are

connected directly to said brush 56, by the circuit wires all designated 57. The upper switchmembers 45, for the holes 19, 20, 21 and 22,-are connected by circuits 19 20", 21 and 22", to four electric control pneumatics 58, 59, and 61, an enlarged detail of which is shown in Fig. 9. Each of these devices includes a box or air chest 61, the bellows 61, connected by a port 61. The air chest 61 is supplied with air under pressure through.

'ClOilllQ the port 69 and opening a port 70,-

from the air chamber 66 and passageway to the outside atmosphere. Thus, when said magnet 67 is energized and port is opened, 7

the air pressure operates to move the diaphragm 63 and lifts the double valve 63, permitting air under pressure to pass into the bellows 61 forcing them outwardly, as indicated in the light broken lines, thereby op,- erating a pull rod 71.; when said magnet is deenergized, its armature valve 68 is forced outwardly by the air pressure from port 69 until it closes port 70, thereby equalizing the pressure in the passageway 65'and the air chest 61 and allowing the valve 63 to be closed by pressure from within said air chest, and permitting the air from the bellows 61! to escape to the atmosphere. 7

' The switch members 45, in pouch box controlled by the trackerbar holes 37 to42, inclusive, are connected by wires 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42, to corresponding, fixed contact bars72, 73, 74, 75, 76,77, 78 and79, inclusive, as clearly shown in Figi l, Movable switch bars, of insulatinginaterial, and designated, respectively, 80. 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86

ands'l', are provided. Switchbar 80 is pro vided with a series of contact elements 80,

on its upper side, and with contact elements 80, 80*, 89 and 80 on' its underside. Movable switch bars'31, 82, 83, 84, 85,86 and 87 are each provided with a series of contact elements, as 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86 and 87.

lieferr-ing'now to-the upper part of Fig. 1, I

ha ve-indicated the usual manner in which the manually operated-keys K, are provided with contact elements, as 96, to engage contact elements 97, with circuit wires, as 98, running,

respectively, from said keys to the several contact elements on bar 80, while said fixed contact elements 97 are connected in a circuit 99 running to the brush 56 on the gen cr-ator Alsoindicated on Fig.1, isa secon d manual designated 100, and a third manualdesignated 101, only fractional parts being-shown to indicate the arrangement. Controlled by the keys of the second manual 100, are contact elements at100, connected in circuits 102, from said keys to the respective contact elements 85 on bar 85, andcircuits 103and to brush 56. Controlled by the keys of the third manual 101, are contact elements at 101, connected by circuit 104, from said keys, to the respective elements 86. on bar 86, and by wires 105 into circuit-103. Return circuit wires, designated 106 and 107, connect 108 from the opposite brush 109 of thegenerator 53.

Electrically operated stop, tablet devices 110. are provided for each of the contacts on the bars 81, 82,83, 842and87. One of these 1 mechanisms is shown in enlarged view in twoelectromagnets 111 and 111', and a pivoted-arm 112, ontheouter end of which is a tablet- 113, usually manipulated manually. Onthe'inner endof said arm 112 is a curved armature 114, controlled by. said electromagnets 111 and 111. Saidarmature 114carries a contact member 115, which moves into and out of engagement with aacontact element 116,

Fig. 5, and comprises a box or case 110, with establishing a circuit through the Wire 116',

the contact member 115, wire 117, and the terminal 118, which is connected through-circuit wire 118-with thegenerator-brueh 109.. Circuit wire 116 is connected to the usual electrically operatedpneumatic switch in'the organ chamber, wh ch causes-a setof sounding de-- vices to beeomenperable by of" oneof the manuals.- of' its terminal wires through terminal 119.

means of the keys Magnet 111 has one 119 extended out The other ends of the magnet wires,,designated120, 120, are

connected to the metal part of the box Terminal 121 is also connected with said metal box 110;,.and extends to generator brush 109, through wire 103'; The'wires 119',

connect-with contact'members 81, 83, and 87 87 and 87, respectively. The. terminal Wire 122, fromthe magnet 111, connects through wire 122 to contact members 82, 84 and 87 i 7 provided on its upper Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and4, I will describe:

in detail the mechanism for controlling the swell shutters of the organ chamber. A box 123, has therein a vacuum chamber 124, and two valve chambers 125, 125, with. a valve stem 126 for each, eachprovided. with valves 126 and 126", the lower ends of saidvalve stems 126 resting upon pouches 127, over airpvockets,as 128, connected to holes 28 and 29 of the tracker bar 11, throughtubcs 35, Fig. 1. The chamber 124 is maintained in partial vacuum through pipe connection 129, in the mual manner, while valve chambers 125, 125, are connectedthrough ports, as 130, with bellows 131 and 132, there being an adjustment screw as 133,.to regulate'the size of port 130 of bellows 131. The movablcaneniber of each bellows is provided with a contact blade, as 131. which successively contacts with a series of terminals designated 135, and which are connectedthrough wires 136, respectively, tothe magnets operating the pneumatics, 137, which operate the swell shutters 138, 138. as indicated in the lower left handcorner of Fig. 1.

The mechanisms described are mostly known in pipe organ construction and in selfplayer piano construction and is only here shown and described sufficiently to enable those versed in the art to understandmy invention, which in its embodiment herein, is contained in the construction and arrangement ofthe switch board shown in the upper part of Fig. 1, where the various circuits can be made to perform additionalfunctions to those usually performed by said circuits. The switch board is controlled from the usual tracker bar, but through additional holes, such as holes 19 to 26, inclusive, Fig. 6, at one end, andholes 2.7 to '34, inclusive, at the other 3-;

end of saidtracker bar.

Referring to Fig. 12, showing afragmentary portion of a music roll with my invention applied thereto, and assuming that the paper: is traveling inthe direction indicated 2:;

by the arrow over the tracker bar, and that the first row of perforations, designated 0,

through the fixed member 75 and contact 80,v

are normal note playing perforations, on animal 13, as saidroll advances, the row of perforations .N, causes the. switch mech anism to operateto break the contacts between con tacts 80 and their respective fixed bars'72 to tact 81', to depress a stop tablet 113. Perforations I, in conjunction with perforations N causes the next perforations 0, through contact member 82, to raise said stop'tablet 113. This stop tablet controls noteson manual 13. Similarly, perforations'N, in con- 80, and 80, with fixed members 76', 77, 78 and junction with N, causes stop tablet 113, on

manual 14, to be depressed, and N causes the next perforations O to raise said stop tablet 113. I

Perforation N in conjunction with N, makes its corresponding perforations O, to function to depress a stop tablet 113 on manual 12. Perforation N in conjunction with N, causes perforations O to lift all of the stop tablets 113 which controls the notes onmanual 12.- Perforations N causes the operation of movable switch bar 85 and makes perforations 0, through one of the contacts 85, with fixed bar 75, to play a note on manual 14, as well as its'original function of playing a note on manual 13. Similarly, perforation N, in conjunction with perforation i causes perforations O to play on manuals 12, 13 and 14. The next perforation l 9 causes perforation O to play a note on manuals 13 and 12.

; been done before.

Referring to Fig. 13, which shows a fragmentary section of a piano roll, I have added perforations 0 N and N, in advance of the ordinary note playing perforations; Perforations O in conjunction with perforations N and N control mechanisms which cause the cancellation or lifting of all'stops or tablets on manual 13, these perforations all being in one section. The next group-of perforations, in conjunction with the next perforations N and N control mechanisms which cause the corresponding three tablets on manual 13 to be depressed. This sets up the desired stop tablet combination for the approaching music perforations. The reason I have shown the cancellation group of perforations O is for the'purpose of clearing the stop tabletboard in case-any of the stop 7 tablets were depressed prior to starting the roll. 2 The set up for a second and third section of the tracker bar is not shown in this figure,'as it is only illustrative of what can be done with my invention.

In Fig. 14, which is a specially prepared roll, I have indicated-the three sections thereon, corresponding to the three sections of the s tracker bar, as well as two of the manuals and pedalsection of the organ. From the foregoing sary-todescribe this figure in detail. It will be seen, ho'weventhat the operation of each 7 description of the mechanisms and the lowing as to how various stop tablets can be depressed or raised, it is not deemed necessection can bealternated, thereby permitting the musicto continue without interruption, one or-more of the manuals playing, while the stop tablets for the pedal section are being operated. Also that one manual and pedal section can be operating while thestop tablets for another manual are being operated.

The use and operation of my invention may be briefly described ts follows 2 As the music roll moves over the tracker bar 11, tli G PGIfOIQtlODS'HI the rollregister with theh-oles in the tracker bar in the usual man ner, admitting airat atmospheriopressure through the holes which are opened and through the tubes 35,'passageways 49,- into the air pockets 48. This creates pressure against the diaphragm 47, causing it to lift the movable switch contact 46 against the contact member 45, and establishing a circuit which includes one of the vertical parallel members 7 2 to 79. It is assumed that the particular hole in the tracker bar is within the note playing range 16, 17 or 18of the tracker bar. Under present systems, these circuits thus established go dlr'ectly to the respective keys, as indicated in the upper left hand cornor of Fig. l, where the keys are designated K.

Bymy invention, I have provided the vere tical parallel bars '72 to 7 9, inclusive, and

have also provided the movable horizontal switch members 80 to '87 and I use these not only to continue the circuits as ordinarily required, using horizontal member 80, shown in its normal position, as a part of the circuit, but by means of additional holes in i the tracker bar and in the music sheet, as before referred to, I am able to establish additional circuits for operating other electrically controlled mechanism within the organ, and p articularly the automatic control of the stop tablets such as 113. r V

I will now describe how this is accomplished by means of these additional features, which really constitute the heart of my invention. L 1

Referring to Fig. 1, and assuming that a particular hole in the tracker bar 11, which opens passageway 37 to the pouch box 44 and through one of the air pockets 48, is operating and closiiigthe switch elements'45 and 46 in circuit 37 which includes vertical member 74, and one of contact members 80, on movable bar 80, to a corresponding key contact on a predetermined manual, it will be seen that this connection will accomplish the under the control of this particular tracker bar hole, as found in present self playing apparatus, with the exceptionthat I interpose in the circuit to the key a vertical bar 74', a horizontal switch bar 80 and one of its contact elements 80", instead of running said CHClllh directly to the key contact. 7 l I Takmgfor illustration tracker bar hole 22,

which is one of the new or additional holes added to make possible my invention, and which controls the operation of pneumatic 61, which in turn moves bar 80, and thereby disengages contacts from their respective vertical parallel members and breaks the circuit established by hole This pneumatic 61, also brings into engagement contact members 80 80 80 and 80 with vertical parallel members 76, 77', 78 and 79. These contact members 80, 80*, 80 and 80 are connected, respectively, to pncumatics 92, 93, 94 and 95. They also operate to move horizontal switch members 84, 83, 32 and 31, re spectively. Thus it will be seen that if in conjunction with holes 37 and 22., hole opened, a circuitois established through 42, vertical member 79, contact 80, to electrically operated pneumatic 95. This pneumatic causes the operation of the movable horizontal member 81, bringing into engagement contact members 81 with their respective vertical members, one of which corrcsponds to vertical member 74-, thereby cempleting a circuit which causes the depression of one of the stop tablets 113, in the manner indicated in Fig. 5.

Supposing that hole 37 remains open, and also hole 22, and in conjunction with these two holes, hole 41 is opened, it will be seen that by a similar process the same stop tablet will be made to lift through a circuit established by one of contact members 82 on movable switch member 82. Similarly it will be seen that if in conjunction with holes 37 and 22, hole 40, is opened, the stop tablet 113, shown directly to the left hand of movable switch member 83, will be depressed. It will be lifted, if in conjunction with holes 37 and 22, hole 39 is opened to establish a circuit through 39 to vertical member 76, and one of contact members 84. This shows five distinct purposes for which hole 37 can be used. In addition to these, let us suppose that hole 37 is open and hole 21 is opened, through circuit 21, electrically operated pneumatic 60 moves switch member 85, and causes contact members 85 to make contact with their respective vertical members and a circuit established to one of the keys 100, of manual 13. If in conjunction with holes 37 and 21, hole 22 is opened, thereby interrupting contacts 80, it will be clearly seen that only the key 100, on manual 13, will be affected. If, however, it is desired to have the same note play on both of the manuals, only two holes 37 and 21 are necessary. It will also be seen that if hole 20 is opened in conjunction with hole 37, by a similar process, key 101. on manual 14, is affected by said hole 37. The same note can be made to play on one each of keys 96, and 101, by opening holes 20 and 21 in conjunction with hole Circuit breakers 86 are shown on movable switch members 86, which prevent the operation of pneumatics 81, 82,, 83 and 84, thereby preventing the depressing or raising of the stop tablets, while switch 86 is in operaticn'i.

e of manual ll This zgives the playing r g tour notes more than an ml 13, and. equal to manui'rl 12. hole 19 causes the operation of movableswitch member 87, through circuit l5) and electrically tf dil'tlt dti pn- ,umatic 58. It will be clearly seen in the drawing that contact members 87', 87 and 87 cause the stop tablets shown directly to the left to be depressed, according as their respective circuits are completed. It also suown that in conjunction with hole 19, if hole 38 is opened, a circuit is established to all of the lower contacts of said stop tablets 113, which causes them to be raised simultaneously.

I claim 1. In self-player mechanism for pipe organs, means "for automatically operating stop tablets and swell shutters, said means including in combination, pneumatic means for operating an electric switch, said means being adapted to be controlled by perforated sheet, an el ctric switch to be operated, a circuit including said switch, magnetic means included in said circuit to be energized therefrom, mechanism controlled by said mag netic means including a switch member having a plurality of contact elements for male ing and breaking a plurality of circuits simultaneously, circuits therefor, stop tablets adapted to be electrically operated from said circuits and swell shutters adapted to be electrically operated from said circuits.

2. In self-player mechanism for pipe or gans using tracker bar and perforated music sheets, mechanism for automatically and individually operating stop tablets and moving swell shutters, said mechanism including in combination with electrically operated stop tablets and electrically moved swell shutters, circuits therefor, fixed switch memoers forming portions of certain circuits, movable switch members having contact elements connected with certain circuit wires, means for selectively moving said movable switch members to make and break controlling circuits for said stop tablets and said swell shutters, said means being adapted to be controlled in its operation by marginal perforations in said music sheet, said marginal perforations simultaneously cooperating with regular note playing perforations to effect said control.

3. In. self-player mechanism for pipe organs using tracker bar and perforated music sheets, means for automatically and individually operating the stop tablets of the organ and the swell shutters thereof, said means being controlled from the perforated music sheet moving over said tracker bar, marginal perforations in said music sheet adapted in combination with the note playing perforations in said music sheet, to cause said note playing perforations to actuate said means for Operating said stop tablets and said swell shutters.

Signed at Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, this 19th day of September,

' DONALD E. CLARK. 

